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When courage becomes way of life for migrants in Peru
When the ground began to shake beneath Tamara Baltodano’s feet, panic set in. Though accustomed to tremors in her native Nicaragua, it was terrifying to hear her house in Peru creak and groan as if it were about to collapse.
Instinct took over and she ran into the street, afraid the building would crumble and trap her inside. Outside, everything was quiet. No one else seemed alarmed. That jolt, which had left her dazed, was just another tremor for locals, who went about their day as usual.
After that moment, Tamara realized there was one more thing she had to adapt to as she built a new life in Peru. Just as she had learned to cope with Lima’s cold weather, the absence of rain, and the ritual of welcoming guests with a warm drink, she now had to accept that an earthquake could strike at any time, on any day.
Tamara arrived in Lima 14 years ago to work for a Peruvian company. As soon as she arrived, she fell in love with the country. “I liked the freedom of expression, the democracy, the food, the textiles,” she recalls. “It’s a land full of opportunities.”